By law, an employer must pay statutory parental bereavement pay to anyone who's eligible.
This includes:
- anyone taking statutory parental bereavement leave
- anyone who is not eligible for parental bereavement leave, but is still eligible for parental bereavement pay
Who can get parental bereavement pay
Anyone taking statutory parental bereavement leave will also get parental bereavement pay.
Someone who's not eligible for the leave might still be entitled to the pay. This applies if:
- they were employed when their child died
- they'd worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks, on the Saturday before the child's death
- they earn on average at least £129 per week, before tax
- they are classed as employed for tax purposes
Classed as employed for tax purposes
This includes anyone who has their tax paid automatically through PAYE. For example, employees and agency workers.
Workers who pay tax through self assessment are not eligible for statutory parental bereavement pay.
Check employment status for tax on GOV.UK
If someone is not eligible
Some workers will not be eligible for statutory parental bereavement pay. However, they should talk with their employer. The employer might have their own bereavement policy that offers other types of time off for bereavement.
How much parental bereavement pay is
Statutory parental bereavement pay is one of the following, whichever is lower:
- £194.32
- 90% of someone's average weekly earnings
This is the minimum amount employers must pay eligible parents.
Enhanced parental bereavement pay
Some employers offer more than statutory parental bereavement pay. This can be called 'enhanced' or 'contractual' parental bereavement pay.
The amount and how long someone gets it for should be clearly set out in either:
- their written statement of employment particulars
- the organisation's bereavement policy, if there is one
Claiming statutory parental bereavement pay
To receive statutory parental bereavement pay, a worker must give their employer notice in writing. For example in a letter or email.
They must tell their employer:
- their name
- their entitlement to statutory parental bereavement pay
- the date of their child's death
- their relationship with the child
- the start and end dates of the leave they want to claim the pay for – if they are taking statutory parental bereavement leave
Employees can give notice for their leave and pay in one document.
Employees must ask for statutory parental bereavement pay within 28 days of taking statutory parental bereavement leave. This starts from the first day of the week they're claiming the payment for.
Employers should make the process for requesting parental bereavement pay clear in contracts or policies.
Find out more about how to claim statutory parental bereavement pay on GOV.UK
Contact the Acas helpline
If you have any questions about parental bereavement pay, you can contact the Acas helpline.